Trust at 100km/h: how Bluetooth bond helps skier Neil Simpson defy blindness

"Poth effectively acts as Simpson's eyes on the course, feeding information to his partner via a Bluetooth headset. I'm just giving as much detail as possible to him, on different combinations, delays, the terrain. Poth says. The guide is always relaying information and Neil is the one who's judging the distance [between the pair]. It's constant chat and Neil was managing the distance on that front, telling me to go, go, go or slow down."

"Born with the condition nystagmus, which causes involuntary eye movements, he has been skiing since he was four, first on the dry slopes in Aberdeen, then at the Glenshee resort, before competing in national competition aged 16. I think it's something that's never really fazed me, he says. It's just a really fun sport to participate in."

Neil Simpson, a 23-year-old with nystagmus causing involuntary eye movements, won silver at the Winter Paralympics in visually impaired alpine skiing alongside guide Robert Poth. Simpson has skied since age four and previously competed with his brother Andrew, who guided him to gold in Beijing four years ago. When Andrew broke his leg, Poth became Simpson's guide, communicating course details through a Bluetooth headset at speeds up to 100 km/h. The guide provides terrain information while Simpson judges distances and directs pace adjustments. Simpson views skiing as an enjoyable sport rather than a dangerous endeavor, and he and Poth have two remaining events where they are considered strong medal prospects.

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